encuentro2 information

[Montyneill@xxxxxxx]

Please forward -- I apologize for redundancies --

INFORMATION ON THE SECOND ENCUENTRO FOR HUMANITY AND AGAINST NEOLIBERALISM

This information has been assembled from various postings, as of May 12,
1997, to help folks in the U.S. plan to travel to Spain from July 25 through
August 3, 1997, for the Second Encuentro. Apologies for gaps and any errors:
some information is incomplete, other is contradictory or not clear.

The Irish Zapatista Action Project has established two sources of informtion.
One is a mailing list. They say:  We would encourage everyone involved around
their OC's or thinking of going to Spain to join our mailing list.  To do so
send the message

subscribe encounter2
to
majordomo@xxxxxx

NOTE: This is likely to be as up-to-date a source of information as you will
be able to find in English -- so do subscribe if you can.

They are translating many documents with regards to the organisation and
circulating them
to the encounter2 mailing list.  They have also constructed a web page which
carries a lot of information about the last encounter, organisation of the
second one and discussion documents around it.  This page is at
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3849/gatherdx.html

CONTENTS OF THIS POSTING:
1) US contacts
2) Inscription (registration) information
3) inscription form
4) Information about delivering papers/speeches
5) Program
6) Purpose of the gathering [note, I am not posting the second declaration of
La Realidad, a fundamental source of information for this encuentro and which
can be find on websites linked to the one for this gathering noted above].
7) Information on the venues

1) US CONTACTS

So far, several people/groups are working to get inscriptions (registrations)
together to send to Spain. If any more join, hopefully they will be posted on
the website and sent out via the list. They are referred to as Organizational
Committees (OC).

Gathering inscriptions from anywhere in the US:
Jo McIntire
mcintire@xxxxxxx
7265 A1A South, Unit D-1,
St. Augustine, FL 32086
Tel: (904) 461-3176
Fax: (904) 461-3175

For northern California:
Maria Elena Martinez-Torres
malena@xxxxxxxxxxx
Institute for Food & Development Policy
398 60th St.
Oakland, CA 96618
Tel: (510) 654-4400
Fax: (510) 654-4551

For New England:
Monty Neill
P.O. Box 204
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
e: montyneill@xxxxxxx
fax: 671-522-2410

For Texas:
contact: tamara@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Tamara Ford)
or:  saint@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Mark Williard)

It is likely that there will be other groups/people acting as organizational
contacts -- as best as possible, they will be posted on the web site.

2) INSCRIPTIONS (REGISTRATIONS)
Pre-inscription (form follows) has to be given to your organisational
committee before the May 31 -- now this is for Europe and I believe the US
date may be later -- say about June 10. But you have to get your inscription
to a US OC in time for it to be sent to Spain. So do get it to them by the
start of June!

Quota payment (for food, accommodation, and transport inside Spain) has to be
made before the 30th of June to your Organisatorial Committe. (Some reports
say 15, June, but that is perhaps for Europe, not outside of Europe); and in
any case, people coming from outside Europe will be able to pay the quota in
Madrid.

The quota will be fixed in June (estimated between 100 and 200 US $ ). The
quota will be different depending on the economic levels of different
countries. If you bring money, aside from cash I don't know what form they
will take, e.g. travelers checks.
Check with the OC folks as to whether they will take money (I don't want to,
would prefer people pay there.)
There will be a solidarity quota, (voluntary).

BRING WITH YOU: Sleeping bag, mattress, plate and fork/knife/spoon,  tent
perhaps a wate jug/bottle [note, below, that accommodations will vary a good
deal from site to site].

3)INSCRIPTION FORM: fill this out and send it to one of the organizing sites
in the US in time to arrive in Spain -- first week of June is probably OK.

a) PERSONAL DATA

1. Your Name/Nickname

2. Your Address (optional)

3. Are you part of any organisation/collective? Name?

4. Address of your organisation/group/collective

5. Can one of these addresses be included in the Network list (to be sent
information about the Gathering)? Which one?


b) GATHERING/ORGANISATIONAL DATA

6. Arrival date:

   Transport used :

7. Are you coming with children?

   What ages are they?

8. Are you vegan ? Vegetarian ? Omnivore ? (Do you eat meat + and
everything)?

9. Which languages do you speak ?

10. Are you able to be a translator for the Gathering?

c) CONTENTS

11. Themes in the gathering you want to take part (preferential order) [see
below]:
	 1
	 2.
	 3

12. Which extra activities will you organise for the Gathering (talks,
workshops, projections,
etc.)?

13. What do you need in order to do these activities ?

14. Are you going to do a speech ? About which theme ?

15. What do you need in order to present it (video, slides projector, etc.)?

d) FINANCES

16. Can you donate money apart from your personal quota ? How much, and in
which way ?

18. Do you think you will have financial problems to attend the Gathering ?
Which sort of financial problems ?

e) OTHER

19. Any other things you want to add ?

20. Organisational commission you give your pre-inscription form to:

END OF FORM

Inscriptions will be sent to Zaragoza Spain, to:

Plataf. de Solidaridad con Chiapas de Aragsn
San Vicente de Paul 26, 50001
ZARAGOZA
ESPAQA SPAIN
Phone: 34-76-39 33 05
Fax: 34-76-39 54 34
EMAIL: chiapas@xxxxxxxxxx

4) PAPERS AND SPEECHES:

Speeches must be send before the 31st of May (Europe) and the 10th of June
(outside Europe). They must be no more than 10 pages. They have to include :
- title
- author name
- country
- big theme to be related with [see below for themes]
- summarising (10 lines) of the content have to be send by e-mail or disc
(without an special format, only txt ) to:
Colectivo Zapatista de Granada, c/Marquis de Falces 5, 2: - 18001 - GRANADA-
Spain
e-mail :  ponencia@xxxxxxxxxx

NOTE 1: I believe they can be sent in English only and translating into
Spanish will be done in Spain (better of course if you can send both) -- but
some material I have received suggests articles have to arrive in both
English and Spanish, though I think this is not correct.

NOTE 2: I am not sure whether the organizational committees will send papers,
but it is perhaps best, unless you are certain that they will send your
paper, that you send it directly.


5) PROGRAM for the intercontinental gathering for Humanity and against
Neoliberalism --

Friday 25 July	Arrival in Madrid and registration. Dinner and  Party.
Saturday 26 July	Registration (morning). Opening of the Encuentro and night
party.
Sunday 27 July	12 noon: demo in the centre of Madrid. Afternoon and evening
departure towards the different sites.
Monday 28 - Thursday 31 July	Work at the different Tables in Madrid,
Barcelona, Ruesta-Zaragoza, El Indiano- Andalusia, Almunecar-Andalusia. [INFO
on sites below]
Friday 1 August	Arrival at "El Indiano".
Saturday 2 August	Final Plenary. Closing Party.
Sunday 3 August	Departure towards Madrid.

6) OBJECTIVES OF THE SECOND GATHERING:
	The objectives and areas of discussion are  based on the consulta which was
answered by  over 1000 people.	
	The second gathering is a gathering of struggle.   That means that the theme
and contents of the  discussions have to be focused on these  struggles and
our experiences although in a broad and all encompassing manner.
	There is a need to create a network of  struggles.  This we believe should
be discussed  at every table.
	For the second gathering to pretend to be  useful it must identify new ways
of struggle  and new forms of politics.  We must make sure  there is a real
discussion between the  participants therefore both time and space  have to
be provided for learning from each  other and exchanging experiences.

	To give some structure to the contents of the  discussions the following
criteria have been  decided:
	This is a gathering of struggles; we'll include  the theoretical aspects but
our departure points  are the struggles; which ones; where they are and how
they are.
	At every table the creation and the features of  the network need to be
discussed

Methodology:

In order to fulfil these objectives our scheme of  work must resemble
entering a cube:
	Front face - the entrance:  Here we find the  struggles, they need to be
sorted under some  criteria
	On the sides we find the analysis and  methodology and all the themes
discussed in  Chiapas, these have to be present and each of  them used as a
tool of political analysis of each  struggle and experience.  (In this way we
reach  a compromise by including the thematic  structure used in Chiapas)
	This time we also add gender as a tool of  analysis.
	Some examples: To implement the conclusions of table C, "Which  politics
have we got and which politics do we  need" means that in this gathering we
ask,  what politics does this struggle confront and  what new way of politics
shows in its  development?
	To implement the conclusion of the table about  "economics, histories of
terror" we need to ask:  How does this struggle contribute to breaking  the
logic of the market, the dominant logic that  controls every relationship.
 How does it  contribute to introduce new human and ethical  values which
seek to satisfy human aspirations?
	In reference to the conclusions of the table  "Culture, from the potato to
cyberspace" the  idea would be to analyze how through every  struggle the
dominant values, the intellectual  power can be changed, creating new
 experiences of free thought.
	The conclusions about the social movements  have a direct application to the
analysis of each  struggle.  They must show a new way of being  political,
new ways of creating a relationship  between the different forms of struggle
and  resistance.
	Finally, because we talk about a world with  room for many worlds within
each struggle we  need to see how to expand our notion of the  world (Earth)
as we connect and integrate the  different but similar struggles of the
planet.
	We need to see how the diversity of real  struggles provide a way of
building each of the  different worlds a place in our world.
	Referring to gender the question would be how  the struggles within itself
and its surroundings  the existing relationships (between men and  women)?
	At the back of the cube is the exit.  Here is the  creation of the network
as the result of this  exchange of experiences.  It is important to
 emphasize that this answer is not a simple  methodological consideration.
 This is the  objective we are aiming for in this 2nd  Gathering.  If we are
unable to construct a  relationship between struggles, giving to them
 harmony, a learning process, a system to grow  together from the idea that
they are connected  all the questions won't go beyond simple  political
discussions.
	The idea of the network is not simply a  technical problem; one of
collecting addresses,  fax numbers or internet addresses.  It is  essentially
a political problem, a new  organization way we have to fill up with our  own
utopias, values and understandings of  humanity and politics.
	To gather the struggle we must consider those  concrete ones against he way
neoliberalism  reduces and impoverishes necessities and  human aspirations.
 These express themselves  as struggles for humanity, they build up
 alternative human values.

>From all these ideas the following themes were  agreed:
	1. Neoliberal economics against humanity. Our lives  beyond economics.
	2. Our worlds and their world.
	3. Struggles for culture, education and information.
	4. The woman and her struggles./ The struggle against  patriarchy.
	5. Struggles for the Earth and Ecology.
	6. Against any form of exclusion.

	I. This includes all the struggles against neoliberalism  in the world of
work, the concept of work, the creation  of the conditions for life.  This
includes all the struggles  based in alternative economies and ways of life
	II. This includes struggles and experiences in  opposition to the perverse
effects of the globalization of  relationships, economic, political and
institutional that  neoliberalism imposes.
Counterpoised to this we have the defense and  recreation of our own values
of solidarity, cooperation  and the relationship between the people and the
 struggles of the world.
	III. This includes struggle against the disintegrating  models of global
culture, alienating education,  discrimination and unequal access to the
creation and  control of information.
	VI. The agenda will be finalized after the women have  gathered in Vienna
(1-2 May)
	V. Its Obvious
	VI. We want to include in this theme not only forms of  exclusion created by
neoliberlism but also the forms of  exclusion that exist inside unfair and
repressive  societies that are often get reproduced in groups  fighting
neoliberalism.

	The theme of the creation of the network will be  included in every table.
 The following themes should  be discussed in respect of this:
	A - Power in the society and the network as a counter  power.  This point is
essential because it clarifies that the network is not just a technical
problem.  It's a  problem of understanding the concrete and specific  forms
in which the power of injustice and anti-humanity  expresses itself
destroying our best aspirations, of  understanding how this power limits our
utopias. From this an understanding has to emerge of our  positive proposal,
our proposal of what we want to do  in order to construct a world with room
for all the worlds  of the planet.
	This point includes
	A.1 The dominant power
	A.2 Our utopias and perspectives
	A.3 Gender in the network
	A.4 The network structures as a new notion of power

	B - New ways of doing politics How much is neoliberalism running in our
blood How to create a new language of struggle (as the  Zapatistas have) that
allow us to connect in a new way  with society?
	C Who comprises the network, which sorts of struggles  and movements A deep
discussion about who really has the new  thoughts and who is just reproducing
the old ways.
	D How to integrate the more oppressed in each part of  the planet.
	E Pragmatic solutions: Proposals and critique of  organization.  All the
themes above make sense if we  are able to connect them in proposals and
initiatives  that create a grouping of struggles.

Time distribution in the talks
	The first half of each tables work will be decimated to exchanges about the
struggles present.
	In the second half it will be decided how much time to  allocate to the
discussion of the creation of the network at each table or suitable.
	People have to think through this, it is not just one  more theme  to talk
about, it is the objective of the  gathering, the deep treatment of the theme
requires a  each for concrete proposals.
	The consultation showed there is a requirement for open tables for specific
themes so struggles that want  there own space can have it.  The gathering
wants to be as inclusive as possible.

[This comment was taken from an earlier posting:] Each theme will be
discussed from the perspective of questions debated in Chiapas : politics,
society, economics and culture.
This time the additional perspective of gender will be looked at.

The creation of a Network of Struggles and Resistence will be present as a
theme in each table . The structure and set up of the Network will be based
on the discussion of the following points :
- The power in the society and the Network as an anti-power.
- New ways of doing politics
- Who forms the network : Which kind of struggles and movements.
- How to include everywhere the more excluded around the Planet.
Pragmatical conclusions : proposals and organisatorial criteria.

7) VENUES
1. San Sebastiande los Reyes (15 Km from Madrid);
2. Almunecar, Granada;
3. Catalunya (different subsites: Barcelona, Priorat, l'Hospitalet,
Terrassa);
4. El Indiano (Sierra de CAdiz-Andalusia) 3Km from Puerto Cerrano, 90 Km from
Sevilla.
5. Ruesta (150 Km fromZaragoza-Aragon).

[NOTE: As of now, we do not know what discussions will be located at what
site. The information about where in Madrid the opening will be held, and
where people will stay, has not been posted.]

MADRID
Place : San Sebastian de los Reyes
Accomodation : sport hall (please bring sleeping bags !)
Food : in the public schools
Capacity : 1,000 people
More information : platmex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
rez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
egc@xxxxxxxxxxxx

BARCELONA
Place : different sub-venues of a 300 people capacity each : Barcelona
districts, Terrassa, Hospitalet and Priorat region.
Accomodation : in private houses and collective spaces like schools, squats,
Priorat- camping.
Capacity in total : 1,000 to 2,000 people
Food : breakfast and diner at the accomodation space.
Collective lunch at the sub-venue.
Organised by : Catalan Assembly for the Second Gathering (an assembly formed
by interested people and different collectives like solidarity groups, womens
groups, anti-military, lesbian-gay, Gipsy, trade unions, etc.)
More information : Col.lectiu de Solidaritat amb la Rebelio
Zapatista . C/Cera 1-bis. 08001 Barcelona.
e-mail : ellokal@xxxxxxxxxx . Ph. : 3-442 21 01/ 3-329 06 43

Plan in Catalonia  :
The train will stop in Priorat where a party will take place. Next stop :
Sants station, Barcelona . In the morning :public event in Sants and in the
afternoon people will go to other sub-venues. Tuesday and Wednesday tables
discussions. Thursday demostration in Barcelona  city centre, public event
and farewell party and train to El Indiano

ZARAGOZA
Place : RUESTA - Little village in Aragon, close to the Pyrenees, restored by
CGT Trade Union.
Accomodation : camping tents.
Capacity : 300-400 people
Services : Youth Hostels (2), general servicies and information services,
tents for tables discussions and meetings.
Organised by : Platform of Solidarity with Chiapas ( Trade Unions, christian
groups, community groups, solidarity groups,etc.)
More information :
Plataforma de Solidaridad con Chiapas
C/ San Vicente de Paul, 26 50001 - Zaragoza
e-mail : chiapas@xxxxxxxxxx
Ph.: 76- 393305   Fax: 76 39 54 34

ALMUNECAR (GRANADA) .
Place : Land El Carambolo . Alternative centre for environment located at a
tropical coast 2 Km from Almunecar and 75 Km. from Granada.
Accomodation : camping tents.
Food : breakfast and diner in the camping . Lunch in the public school in
Almunecar.
Large meetings at the House of the Culture in Almunecar
Discussion tables (10 groups of 50 people) in open space (UNDER TROPICAL
TREES!) in the land El Carambolo . More information : Colectivo Zapatista de
Granada
Organised by  :  Zapatista Groups from Granada, Almeria,
Malaga and Sierra de Huelva.
More information  :
C/ Marques de Falces, 5 2a. 18001 Granada.
e-mail : cgt_granada@xxxxxx
Ph: 58- 29 52 67          Fax : 58- 29 22 80

EL INDIANO (CADIZ)
Alternative agricultural project in a land squated by peasants from a Trade
Union (Sindicato de Obreros del Campo). Located at the mountains (autocton
vegetation) 3Km from
Puerto Serrano and 90 Km from Seville).
Accomodation : Camping tents, space covered by cane ceiling.
Capacity : 500-600 people
Services : Main house El Indiano. Public buildings in the town : public
school, kinder garden, sport hall, etc. Central meeting in a big open space
in the land El Indiano.
Organised by : Zapatista groups of Seville, Huelva, Cordoba
and Lebrija.
More information : Comite de Solidaridad Zapatista de Lebrija
C/Trainera, 4      .41740- Lebrija (Sevilla)
Ph.: 55- 97 29 02





     --- from list aut-op-sy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ---